Safety Tech Lures Older Car Shoppers Into Showrooms, Study Finds

HARTFORD, Connecticut — Drivers over age 50 are increasingly car shopping with safety-tech features in mind, according to a new survey from The Hartford and the MIT AgeLab.

Mature consumers who plan to buy a car in the next two years will be seeking blind-spot warning systems, crash-mitigation systems, lane-departure warning systems and smart headlights, the survey said.

Seventy-six percent of those drivers "think having safety technologies in their vehicles will help extend how long they will be able to continue driving," researchers noted.

In comparison, only 32 percent of drivers age 50+ who bought a car in the last year actively sought out those technologies.

Drivers of all ages will find lots of safety technologies in a wide range of vehicles in dealer showrooms.

Even more affordable vehicles are equipped with the latest safety devices.

They include the 2016 Honda Fit subcompact hatchback, which offers Honda LaneWatch on EX and EX-L models and the 2017 Kia Sportage SUV, which is equipped with a standard blind-spot warning system on the SX Turbo model.

Luxury vehicles, including the 2016 Lexus RX 350 midsize SUV, offer a long list of safety equipment, including smart headlights.

Edmunds says: Older car shoppers should realize that cost isn't the only consideration when it comes to high-tech safety features. They may extend just how long you are able to stay behind the wheel.